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New York: 2013 Central Service Technician Certification Bill Filed

Publish Date: 1/9/2013

A central service technician certification bill has been pre-filed for the 2013 legislative session in New York. An identical bill was introduced in the 2011/2012 legislative session and passed the Assembly and Senate before being vetoed by Governor Cuomo in 2012.

S697 would define central service technician and would require all central service technicians in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) to either:

Hold and maintain the certified registered central service technician credential administered by the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) or the
Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician credential administered by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD);

Provide evidence that the person was employed as a central service technician on or in the two years prior to the effective date of the bill; or

Be a student or intern working under the direct supervision of an appropriately licensed or certified healthcare professional.

Central service technicians that did not meet one of those requirements would have 12 months from the date of hire to obtain the credential. Central service technicians would also be required to complete ten hours of continuing education annually.

AORN supports certification of allied health care providers. Skilled and competent allied health care providers are valued members of the perioperative care team and contribute to safe patient care and positive patient outcomes.

AORN Government Affairs will provide members with updates on the progress of the bill.